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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Berwickshire => Topic started by: excel on Thursday 28 December 06 14:18 GMT (UK)
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Yesterday I was told that there was a cave house, possibly at Chirnside Bridge, near the paper mill. It seems that it was built into the hillside but is no longer there.
Does anyone have any knowledge of this house or have a copy of a Chirnside census which shows it?
Would be grateful for any information.
Rae
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Hi Rae,
In the 1851 census of Chirnside, there is a Rock House after the Toll House, occupants at that time were:
Henry Kerr H M 73 retired Ag. Lab. Berwick, Edrom.
Janet Kerr W M 76 England.
William Kerr S U 41 Lab. Berwick, Chirnside.
Phillis Kerr D U Worker at the Paper Manufactory Berwick, Duns.
Is this what you were looking for?
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Thank you very much for looking it up, Beckey.
Rock House looks possible as several ancestors worked at the paper mill there. Some other relatives remember going to look for it but seem unsure which family of ancestors lived there. It would be after the 1881 census.
Rae
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HI my family CRAWFORD /RAE lived in the chirnside bridge house around 1945 ,my gr ganmother and gr gran father RAE are buried there ,do you think we might be related?email (*) ,my family lefted in1949 for australia ,thomas victor CRAWFORD WIFE EDITH AND THERE 4 CHILDREN ,aunty charolotte and uncle alexander LEARMONTH .also isabella CRAWFORD ,please drop me a email ive got more info about the family xx
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Hello Suzzie,
I don't have any information about your ancestors but there was quite a community around Chirnside Bridge. It was next to the Paper mill so did your family have links with that?
I do have Rae ancestors but they were from Coldingham.
However there may be others on Rootschat who may have links to your family.
Do you know anything about Thomas Crawford's parents? .........
was Edith's surname Rae?
Perhaps you would be better starting an new topic for Crawfords or Rae families around the Chirnside area.
I can try to help you if you have earlier information.
Rae
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Hi Excel,
I assume you got the 1861 census for Rock House.,
Henry Kerr W H 83 Ret.Ag.Lab. Edrom.
Phillis U D 47 Paper Mill Worker Duns.
Mary Rodgers M D 44 Gardener's Wife Chirnside.
Elizabeth Rogers G/D 8 Scholar Duns.
Henry Kerr d. 15.1.1862 84 yrs. his wife Janet Henderson d. 23.2.57 83 yrs.
Son William d. 18.5.1851 42 yrs. Phillis d. 23.3.1875 62 yrs.
There are 2 Crawfords in Chirnside in 1861, Thomas Crawford H U 34 Ag.Lab. Sprouston. Jane Crawford Niece U 13 Paper Mill Worker Dunbar.
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Thanks, Beckie. My ancestors lived there some time later than 1861 and that is not their address in any census. I think it was one of those family stories that has been handed down.
Rae
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Hiya
Have a look at the Dunse History Societys website - they have a collection of old photographs, in the surrounding villages folder, one of which is the Rock House.
ep
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Thank you very much for that link, ep. Even if the Rock House hadn't been in it there are some great old photos.
Rae
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1881 my great g'parents lived New St, Duns
1886 one of their children was born Newton St, Duns
This family then moved to Chirnside.
1893 my 2x great g'mother died Newtown St, Duns
1899 my 2x g'father died at 39 Newtown St, Duns
Does anyone know if all those were the same street?
Rae
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Hi excel,
According to my wife it was Newtown Street, she doesn't know of the others quoted, her grandparents had a shop there 1920/30 and a relation had the laundry.
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Thanks. It was just as I was looking again at the records I have that I noticed the street/streets.
Rae
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I told my son about this query as he lives in the vicinity, and last night he walked there and he reports -
" ------and we had a poke around at the end of the old bridge by the mill, an blow me down if we didn't find the Rock House. It's well disguised behind ivy, and it's only a shell of walls and the porch, but it's still there."
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Wow! I am truly amazed. That was really kind of him to take a walk to look. I wonder if I can ask you to ask him where exactly the old mill and Rock houre were/are.
Thank you so much.
Rae
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I will get the details and let you know. He took a photo on his mobile phone but it was getting dark - all you can see are lots of trees!
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Thank you again for the help.
Rae